OJ Simpson's Rise to Fall Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

OJ Simpson's Rise to Fall - Essay Example However, despite this acquittal, his name had been tarnished and there were few people that believed in his innocence. In fact, in interviews that followed the trial, several of the jurors even voiced their opinions that they believed Simpson had probably committed the murders but due to errors in evidence handling they had produced a verdict of innocence. Though, Simpson was found innocent in the criminal trial this was not the last time he would appear in court regarding the murders. In 1997, after being sued for damages in a civil trial by both the Brown and Goldman families, Simpson was found liable for wrongful death and was ordered to pay $33.5 million dollars to the two families. After both the criminal and civil trials Simpson went on to live life as a free man. Snapshots were often taken of him enjoying time with friends, spending afternoons on the golf course, or picnicking with his children. Photos lead some to believe that Simpson had resumed living a normal life but this was not the case. The public had turned against him. He found it difficult to find work. His career, as he knew it, was over. His endorsements were gone. He was no longer a person people admired, and few people wanted to have their names attached to anything to do with Simpson. He owed large amounts of money to lawyers, the families of the victims, and his children. The type of stardom Simpson had become accustomed to in prior years had ended. The only type of publicity he now received was negative. He became an embarrassment and a mockery of the judicial system. He lost his fan base and had very few valuable supporters. With little income he could no longer make ends meet and eventual ly filed for bankruptcy. Simpson became a mere, shameful, and pathetic shadow of the famed athlete and actor that he once was. His legal issues did not cease after the murder but instead he found himself under the microscope time and time again.